I'm trying to develop a methodology on how to transform abandoned spaces into something beneficial for communities or local councils; this meaning (for laymen as well as professionals) to understand the basic know-hows of identifying the types of spaces, studying surroundings, collecting useful data, synthesizing it and then delivering these ideas and methods into action-oriented transformations of spaces.
Well i do not know a lot about this topic , but i can recommend considering residents mental map for the space before and after transformation as a start for your work.
improve facilities like market, hospital, police station, shopping mall, infrastructure like road, electric or wifi connection, employment facility like industry and hubs etc.
If you speak french, I recommend you the phd thesis of Emmanuel Rey, epfl :
http://pul.uclouvain.be/fr/livre/?GCOI=29303100459090
His other publications (in english) are on:
http://people.epfl.ch/emmanuel.rey/publications?lang=fr&cvlang=fr
This is the exact theme of my thesis. Maybe I can help you more because I am in the middle of the theories but I work with that in my professional life. If you want exchange experiences, write me!
An old issue, we are taking a new take on this. Capitalizing on transparency and nostalgia as means of public awareness! Take a look here: http://www.aibeo.com/#!nu-porto/c23cg
Actually it depends on several factors. Well, an Architect is always free to think and develop his/her design. But, I would like to observe your question in a Town Planner's perspective first and then will follow Architecture.
Any abandoned place says a history; more specifically a cause or a meaning why the space was being abandoned. For example, if it is inside a city (certainly you must be specific about the size and type of city with respect to the demography and economy) and a space is abandoned for a long time, first we need to understand its cause. Why so happened? Was it for any economic reason or social reason or any other reasons. City always grow toward potential zones and hence many spaces in old city areas become abandoned. Sometimes due to the Law and regulations authority needs to shut down few activities. Sometimes due to social discrimination, crime other factors force the space to be abandoned. Therefore, first of all we need to find the reasons. Once we become able to find out the actual reason, then it is important to study the context and surrounding environment with respect to the present city growth and economy.
A comprehensive study will guide you to understand the abandoned space. Then you will get you answer what to plan or what to design for. While designing, make sure that your design must be inclusive of all age group people, all communities and it must be accessible and usable to all. Other option may be housing (if you think about urban homeless people) and a good landscape design will also act as an alternative.
Your new design should not follow the same path where the old design of that particular space already followed. Design the space with potentiality so that maximum people can take the taste of your design. Therefore, a better option is always for designing Public spaces. Now, you set up your priority and proceed.
Good Luck. !
I think the best way is to develop a methodology based on the place-check theory. within this you can find some useful ways to deal with such spaces.
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